New York town sued over public-meeting prayer

Americans United for Separation of Church and State says the Upstate New York town's use of Christian prayer excludes residents and needs to stop.

Colleen M. Farrell

The town of Greece, N.Y.'s practice of prayer before public meetings is getting national attention.

A Washington, D.C., watchdog group for the separation of church and state is suing the town of Greece and Supervisor John Auberger for starting its meetings with Christian prayer.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed the suit Thursday in federal district court on behalf of two residents who object to government-sponsored religious activities that favor one faith over others, according to a news release.

The lawsuit alleges that almost all of the Town Board's opening prayers are explicitly Christian. That practice sends a message that the town favors Christian religions over others, that Christians are political insiders and that non-Christians are outsiders, the group said.

“Greece officials should conduct their meetings in a way that welcomes all citizens,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the group's executive director. “Repeatedly offering Christian prayer at these public events sends a message to non-Christians that they are second-class citizens. That’s not a message public officials should want to send, and it is not a message that the Constitution allows.”

Last year, a Brighton, N.Y., resident filed a complaint, which was later dismissed, with the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. Nancy Braiman charged that the town's use of sectarian prayer violates the Constiution.

Americans United sent a letter to the town in July urging it either stop praying before meetings or be more inclusive in its offerings. The board didn't comply, according to the group, so it filed the lawsuit.

In a statement, Auberger said the town has no intention to stop the practice, which it has been doing for the last 10 years.

"The opportunity to say a prayer at our meeting is available to any Greece resident," he said. "We do not control the content of the prayers given, nor do we place restrictions or guidelines on these prayers."

Auberger has said there's nothing wrong with it, pointing to other government bodies, like the Unites States Congress, who do so.

A local pastor from a Christian church gave an invocation before Auberger's state of the town address earlier this month.